Posted on Sep 5, 2023
Curious Commonwealth asks: Can I forage for figs hanging on trees?
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It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy some fresh berries, figs and peaches right from the source.
Take a stroll in Richmond city streets, parks or the trails and you’ll come across something edible. But is it legal, or even ethical to pick it?
Whittney Evans with VPM News explores this question, as part of our new series Curious Commonwealth.
GM Keaton keeps an eye out for ripened fruit while walking their dog Lazslo through Richmond. Keaton is an artist and adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
They’re also a bit of an amateur ecologist.
“We walk all the time,” Keaton says. “So, I feel like we get to watch a lot of different plants do their things.”
They’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each tree and plant they pass; whether it’s on public or private property; whether the fruit is ripe for harvest and other factors that play into a decision: to pick, or not to pick?
Take a stroll in Richmond city streets, parks or the trails and you’ll come across something edible. But is it legal, or even ethical to pick it?
Whittney Evans with VPM News explores this question, as part of our new series Curious Commonwealth.
GM Keaton keeps an eye out for ripened fruit while walking their dog Lazslo through Richmond. Keaton is an artist and adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
They’re also a bit of an amateur ecologist.
“We walk all the time,” Keaton says. “So, I feel like we get to watch a lot of different plants do their things.”
They’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each tree and plant they pass; whether it’s on public or private property; whether the fruit is ripe for harvest and other factors that play into a decision: to pick, or not to pick?
Curious Commonwealth asks: Can I forage for figs hanging on trees?
Posted from vpm.orgPosted in these groups: 
Food/ChowState of Virginia
Food/ChowState of Virginia
Posted 8 mo ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."GM Keaton keeps an eye out for ripened fruit while walking their dog Lazslo through Richmond. Keaton is an artist and adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
They’re also a bit of an amateur ecologist.
“We walk all the time,” Keaton says. “So, I feel like we get to watch a lot of different plants do their things.”
They’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each tree and plant they pass; whether it’s on public or private property; whether the fruit is ripe for harvest and other factors that play into a decision: to pick, or not to pick?
“There's a pomegranate tree. But it's not thriving here,” Keaton says. “And they're only producing so many fruits that I would not take the pomegranate.”
Keaton has a Google map pinned with trees and other plants that have sweet offerings.
“And the fig trees typically produce a lot of fruit so it doesn't feel as limited as the pomegranate,” they said.
Keaton’s pretty sure state law allows for harvesting fruit that grows on private property, but hangs over a public right of way. They say this while carefully circumnavigating sticky sidewalk jam beneath a mulberry tree.
“Like, if people are dodging your plant, it seems like fair game,” Keaton says."...
..."GM Keaton keeps an eye out for ripened fruit while walking their dog Lazslo through Richmond. Keaton is an artist and adjunct professor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
They’re also a bit of an amateur ecologist.
“We walk all the time,” Keaton says. “So, I feel like we get to watch a lot of different plants do their things.”
They’ve spent a lot of time getting to know each tree and plant they pass; whether it’s on public or private property; whether the fruit is ripe for harvest and other factors that play into a decision: to pick, or not to pick?
“There's a pomegranate tree. But it's not thriving here,” Keaton says. “And they're only producing so many fruits that I would not take the pomegranate.”
Keaton has a Google map pinned with trees and other plants that have sweet offerings.
“And the fig trees typically produce a lot of fruit so it doesn't feel as limited as the pomegranate,” they said.
Keaton’s pretty sure state law allows for harvesting fruit that grows on private property, but hangs over a public right of way. They say this while carefully circumnavigating sticky sidewalk jam beneath a mulberry tree.
“Like, if people are dodging your plant, it seems like fair game,” Keaton says."...
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Depends. Does the commonwealth do anything with the figs? If they do, leave them alone. If they do nothing, pick away
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